MIKE PORTNOY: 'I Don't Follow Rules, I Follow My Heart'

Drummer Mike Portnoy (ADRENALINE MOB, FLYING COLORS, THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) has released the following update:

"I had a great time with my [ADRENALINE MOB] brothers at these last shows in South America. Honestly, I'm sad to see it end...

"Although I recently announced having to step aside from the band because of current scheduling conflicts (I hate the word 'quit,' as so many websites took it upon themselves to so eloquently use as a stupid headline for shock value),I must say I'd always be happy to help them out whenever/however I could in the future should our schedules and situations allow.

"I really will miss Russell [Allen, vocals], Mike Orlando [guitar] and John [Moyer, bass]. We made some great music and unforgettable memories together the last couple years. Through thick and thin...for better or worse. Like any marriage, family or brotherhood.

"But, as I've previously stated, I have other things immediately approaching on my calendar, and unfortunately, I cannot ask them to 'wait around' for my schedule to re-open if they choose to continue working right now... That is their prerogative... I get that and I totally understand it. I wish them the best no matter how it all plays out in the future..

"On the other hand, I cannot be 'exclusive' to them at the moment as I have many other bands/projects that also require my time and attention as well...(most immediately, THE WINERY DOGS world tour that kicks off next month...)

"Just to clarify, for some people who still don't seem to understand it: I always said from Day 1 after leaving DREAM THEATER, that I was going to spend a few years 'planting many musical seeds'... and that's what I'm still currently enjoying doing.

"I spent 25 years focused on ONE band and at the moment I am still enjoying my freedom to explore many different musical, creative and personal environments with so many incredible musicians and different musical directions.

"Perhaps someday I will settle down again with ONLY one band... maybe it will be with one of the ones I'm currently in...? Or maybe with something entirely different...? Or maybe I won't at all... who knows? The future is impossible to predict... There is ONLY THE NOW... and that's how I'm living.

"I know to some, this is a hard concept to swallow as it's not the usual or 'traditional' route for a typical rock musician... But I don't follow rules, I follow my heart!!

"The remainder of 2013 for me will be focused on THE WINERY DOGS which I am incredibly excited about and proud of...I look forward to touring the world with Billy [Sheehan] and Richie [Kotzen] and sharing our music and our chemistry with you all. We plan on playing everywhere and anywhere that will have us...and we can't wait to get started a few weeks from now!

"Also later this year, there will be live releases (Blu-ray/DVD/CD) of my tours from last year with both FLYING COLORS and PSMS (Portnoy, Sheehan, MacAlpine, Sherinian)...as well as the new CD by BIGELF that I played on.

"In 2014, new studio albums from both TRANSATLANTIC and FLYING COLORS will also surface with possible tour dates for both upon their releases...

"Time will tell how all of these different 'musical seeds' will continue to grow and blossom...

"But in the meantime... let's not question it all, overanalyze it all, criticize and judge, etc. It's MUSIC!!!! Let's just ENJOY IT....

"Like I wrote all those years ago: CARPE DIEM!"

ADRENALINE MOB released "Covertá", an eight-track EP featuring cover versions of some of the group's favorite songs, on March 12. Longtime fans of Portnoy are aware of the multiple cover CDs he has released with DREAM THEATER and with Neal Morse. "Covertá" is the first CD of covers recorded by ADRENALINE MOB.

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

Portnoy played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them for the entire second half of 2010.